“That is very likely,” Miss White said, without any apparent sarcasm.

By and by they paused opposite the entrance to a cave that seemed even larger and blacker than the others; and then Miss White discovered that they were considering at what point they could most easily effect a landing.  Already through the singularly clear water she could make out vague green masses that told of the presence of huge blocks of yellow rock far below them; and as they cautiously went farther toward the shore, a man at the bow calling out to them, these blocks of rock became clearer and clearer, until it seemed as if those glassy billows that glided under the boat, and then went crashing in white foam a few yards beyond, must inevitably transfix the frail craft on one of these jagged points.  But at length they managed to run the bow of the gig into a somewhat sheltered place, and two of the men, jumping knee-deep into the water, hauled the keel still farther over the grating shell-fish of the rock; and then Macleod, scrambling out, assisted Miss White to land.

“Do you not come with us?” Miss White called back to the boat.

“Oh, it is many a time I have been in the cave,” said Janet Macleod; “and I will have the luncheon ready for you.  And you will not stay long in the cave, for it is cold and damp.”

He took her hand, for the scrambling over the rough rocks and stores was dangerous work for unfamiliar ankles.  They drew nearer to this awful thing, that rose far above them, and seemed waiting to enclose them and shut them in forever.  And whereas about the other caves there were plenty of birds flying, with their shrill screams denoting their terror or resentment, there was no sign of life at all about this black and yawning chasm, and there was an absolute silence, but for the rolling of the breakers behind them that only produced vague and wandering echoes.  As she advanced over the treacherous shingle, she became conscious of a sort of twilight appearing around her.  A vast black thing—­black as night and still as the grave—­was ahead of her; but already the change from the blaze of sunlight outside to this partial darkness seemed strange on the eyes.  The air grew colder.  As she looked up at the tremendous walls, and at the mysterious blackness beyond, she grasped his hand more tightly, though the walking on the wet sand was now comparatively easy.  And as they went farther and farther into this blackness, there was only a faint, strange light that made an outline of the back of his figure, leaving his face in darkness; and when he stopped to examine the sand, she turned and looked back, and behold the vast portal by which they entered had now dwindled down into a small space of bewildering white.

“No,” said he, and she was startled by the hollow tones of his voice; “I cannot find any traces of the boat news; they have all gone.”

Then he produced a candle and lit it; and as they advanced farther into the blackness, there was visible this solitary star of red fire, that threw dull, mysterious gleams from time to time on some projecting rocks.